Akfen Holding Receives High Score from CDP

Akfen Holding, Akfen Renewable Energy and Akfen REIT achieve high ratings from CDP, international climate change assessment organization. Akfen Group companies emphasize their work toward a sustainable future in their areas of operation, and these efforts are gaining recognition from international assessment organizations. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the world's largest environmental reporting platform, announced its 2023 climate change assessment results. According to the rankings, Akfen Holding, Akfen Renewable Energy and Akfen REIT achieved a B rating—the second-highest tier—in their first year of application. Companies holding this rating are characterized as "businesses taking coordinated action on climate issues" and are described as having "addressed the environmental impacts of their operations and demonstrated sound environmental management." The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the world's largest environmental reporting platform, released its 2023 climate change assessment results. Based on evaluations within the CDP's comprehensive global climate database covering climate, water security and deforestation initiatives, Akfen Holding, Akfen Renewable Energy and Akfen Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) achieved a B rating—the second-highest tier—in their first year of application. Companies holding this rating are characterized as "businesses taking coordinated action on climate issues" and are described as having "addressed the environmental impacts of their operations and demonstrated sound environmental management." The CDP is a London-based international nonprofit organization working to change how business operates in order to reduce the impacts of climate change and protect natural resources. The organization facilitates reporting to investors by public companies on how they use natural resources and natural capital, how their operations affect the regeneration of limited resources, and how they manage risks in this area.

Emre Sezgin, Sustainability Leader and General Manager of Environment and Water at Akfen Group, made the following statement on the matter:

"As Akfen Holding and group companies, we are committed to aligning with the world's sustainable development goals and advancing in this direction. We aim to develop solutions to important issues facing our planet such as the climate crisis, water security and deforestation, and to increase our efforts in these areas. The B rating we received from the CDP in our first year of participation demonstrates that the steps we are taking are in the right direction. However, our goal is not merely to be satisfied with our current achievements, but rather to further integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria into all of our business processes, spread sustainability across all areas and leave a habitable world for future generations. In this context, as Akfen Holding and group companies, we aim to invest in innovation and green technologies with high awareness, increase energy efficiency and reduce our carbon footprint. For us, sustainability is a fundamental part of our business strategy. We will continue our commitment to building a sustainable future together with all our stakeholders and employees." Since its founding in 1976, Akfen Holding has implemented numerous projects in various sectors in Turkey and abroad. Through its subsidiaries in the regions where these projects are located, the company has touched the lives of thousands of people in creating awareness on education, women's empowerment, economic development and environmental protection. In Turkey, Akfen became the first holding to sign the United Nations Global Compact and the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), and also supports HeForShe, a global solidarity movement for gender equality. Embracing the belief that sustainable prosperity is only possible through investment in people and society alongside the economy, Akfen implements its corporate social responsibility projects through the Turkey Human Resources Training and Health Foundation (TİKAV), established by the Akın Family in 1999. Additionally, Pelin Akın Özalp, member of the Akfen Holding Board of Management, serves on the board of Inclusive Capitalism, a global nonprofit organization established to harness the potential of the private sector to create a more inclusive, sustainable and trustworthy form of capitalism. Akfen Renewable Energy, highlighted positively in the CDP report, ranked among the world's top 30 companies across all sectors in the environmental and social governance and sustainability report prepared by international rating agency Moody's among companies it requested in the previous year. Akfen Renewable Energy has prepared the Environmental and Social Performance - Annual Monitoring Report (ESAP-AMR) on annual basis for seven years. Akfen Renewable Energy, which generates electricity entirely from domestic and renewable sources, continues its operations in line with its objectives of combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, managing environmental and social issues and improving living standards for stakeholders in the regions where it operates. Akfen Real Estate Investment Trust (Akfen REIT), which left behind a restructuring period that began in 2021 and as a result has managed to increase its revenues each period, continues to see its corporate sustainability initiatives recognized in various areas. Akfen REIT, through its sustainable business practices and environmentally friendly projects implemented, was included in the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) Sustainability Index as of 1 October 2023, which comprises companies with high sustainability performance. Since its inception, Akfen REIT pioneered its sector with the "Modern City Hotels" project, and over the 16 years since then has achieved portfolio diversification consisting of hotel, resort village, student dormitory, office and factory building and residential projects. Due to the policies it adopted in these projects and the sustainable, innovative and environmentally friendly practices it implemented, Akfen REIT developed its sustainability strategy to create value for all stakeholders.